Journey to Jerusalem

There is so much to say about my own recent experience of first visiting the holy city. More on this will come. 

Quoting from a summary of a recent talk by Rabbi Jackie Tabick to a branch of the Council of Christians and Jews: 

Rabbi Jackie skilfully wove reflections about the heavenly Jerusalem, the city of peace, with those about the reality of a city situated in the real world, whose streets have often been invaded by violence and hatred. For Jews, religion and politics, the heavenly and the earthly city, are inextricable, she explained: "Jewish dreams about Jerusalem are attached to the very soil and rocks “

http://www.ccj.org.uk/Articles/356808/Council_of_Christians/Branches/Staines/A_Journey_to.aspx

My own local chapter of the CCJ met earlier this week to explore members' experiences of visiting Eretz Yisrael. We discussed our impressions and memories in pairs.  Such varied and contrasting expressions about the same place!  

Some spoke about the place by  talking about their families. 

One person commented that it IS 'the film of the book.' 

One member described having a huge heart connection to the place and the Bible stories, while feeling a disconnection with the mythologised place. 

"A place of many meetings and layers."

"It is like Northern Ireland, with palm trees."

"As a Jew, it's a place where you can afford to be secular."

"Diaspora Jews brought a very rich mix of languages and cultures."

"I'm aware of how dry the place it, the fierceness of the sun. The Bible refers to light and shade very often because of the need to reckon with, and retreat from, the heat."

Women of the Wall

Women of the Wall are Jewish women who want the freedom to pray in front of the Western Wall in Jerusalem in some of the ways that liberal progressive reform Jewish women pray all around the world. The site is also known as the Kotel and is considered the holiest site in Judaism.

from their website:
As Women of the Wall, our central mission is to achieve the social and legal recognition of our right, as women, to wear prayer shawls, pray, and read from the Torah collectively and out loud at the Western Wall.

http://womenofthewall.org.il/

here's the link to their video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=Vaaj8INViDQ


Will the recent court ruling in their favour hold? Or will it be contested by the police or other authorities?

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/04/12/world/middleeast/israeli-court-rules-for-women-at-western-wall.html?_r=1&


If it's possible, I hope to meet these courageous women on Rosh Chodesh SIvan, the start of the new month of Sivan, on 10 May 2013.